Introduction to Site Planning &

Landscape Architecture
SITE

Any area which has played a significant role in the history of our country.
• Such significance may be: • Historical
• Cultural
• Archaeological • Sociological
• Scientific

SITE - A space or ground occupied or to be occupied by a building or a

concentration of building developments or human activities that fall under the
same land use category;
• Through site planning, a site is made suitable for building purposes, human
activities, or life sustaining processes; (Francisco, Angelica, 2016)

A site for human activities (production and consumption) may be divided into
lots, street pattern, and provided with such facilities as water, sewer, power,
drainage, etc.
• Every site is a unique interconnected web of things and activities that
imposes limitations and offers possibilities.
• A SITE (“Project Area” or “Planning Area”) varies in size, location and
characteristics.
 “
SITE PLANNING
The art and science of arranging the uses
of
portions of land. These uses are
The art of arranging
designated in
structures on the land
detail by selecting and analyzing sites,
and shaping the spaces
forming
between; an art
land use plans, organizing vehicular and
linked to architecture,
pedestrian circulation, developing visual
engineering,
form
landscape architecture and
and material concepts, readjusting the
city planning.”
existing
landforms by design grading, providing
-by Kevin Lynch
proper
drainage, and developing the construction
details necessary to carry out the projects.

By Harvey Rubenstein, 1980

There are two methods of establishing a site:

1. Site Selection Process

• The process selects from a list of potential sites
one that suits best the given use and requirements
of the project.

2. Development Suitability Process

• This process selects the best possible use and
development suited for a given site.
Site Planning occurs after Strategic Planning has
taken place and after the land use has been decided
in relation to social, economic, and environmental
needs.

•Site planning is an integral part of land use planning

that involves the arrangement of structures, natural or
man- made, on the land and shaping the spaces
between.

•“Site Planning” involves planning for a smaller urban

area already defined for commercial, residential,
industrial, recreational, or mixed use development.
Site planning determines the detailed layout of an
area so that it functions effectively in relation to a
given range of land uses on the site and others
around it.

• Site planning is working out the detail of:

1) what should happen on a given area of land;

2) how it should happen;
3) what it will cost to implement and manage
proposed developments on the area of land.
 Landscape Architecture
Definition:
• LANDSCAPE
- german “landschaft” - small collection of bldgs. as a
human concentration (both physical & spirit) in a circle of
pasture or
- cultivated space surrounded by wilderness
• SCHAP – ship
• LAND – ground or soil
- the most basic commodity
- becomes landscape when it is describe or seen in
terms of physiographical & environmental characteristics

• LANDSCAPE – a picture of natural inland scenery

 Landscape Architecture
Landscape Architecture concerns:
with planning & design of land &water for use by
society.
Planning
- futuristic approach to land
- land is regarded as a resource to be considered in
relation to demands & predicted needs of society & its
values
Design – qualitative & function arrangement of parcels of land
set aside in the planning process for some specific social
purpose such as housing education or recreation.
• Planning & Design suggest man-made or man regulated
landscapes.
 Landscape Architecture
is a separate field of Architecture
Republic Act 9053, the Philippine Landscape Architecture Act,
was signed in 2001 recognizing the full status of Landscape
Architecture as a new profession. Graduates of Landscape
Architecture will therefore have to take the licensure examination
given by the Professional Regulation Commission.

Like Interior Design, it ceases to remain a specialization of building

architects. Graduates of Architecture and related courses may
however opt to take this program as a second profession.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE HAS A MORE BROAD SCOPE

THAN MERE GARDEN DESIGN.
 Republic Act 9053 of 2000

An Act Regulating the Practice of Landscape

Architecture in the Philippines

- it is timely that the USC offered this program to

train more professionals nationwide in responsible
land stewardship for improved quality of life for
society and while rehabilitating and conserving
the natural environment.
 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

The profession has responded to a national expansion of actions:

• to protect and improve environmental quality and resources
• the continuing process of urbanization, industrialization, and land
development
• the concentration of population in metropolitan areas
• the need to conserve energy

• ALL REQUIRE FRESH CONCEPTS OF OPEN SPACE & LAND USE

wa·ter·shed
ˈwôdərˌSHed,ˈwädərˌSHed/

an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to

different rivers, basins, or seas.
 Landscape Architect’s Role:
Responsible Land Stewardship
Stewardship (Managers not Owners)
– Take charge; active participation in the preservation
of life; i.e. Quality and beauty of life (architecture,
music and arts)
– Subdue creation with authority and accountability ( as
a steward)
– Creation reflects the character of God
(Perfect, complete and balanced; beautiful)
• Harnessing the natural forces to serve man’s need

• 5 Rs : refuse, reuse, reduce, recycle and restore

 Landscape Architect’s Role:
Responsible Land Stewardship
• Protecting our Natural Preserves
1. Natural found within various ecosystems
a. Rainforests
b. Principal Watershed (collection of water)
c. Sanctuaries (ex. Bird, Marine, etc.)
d. Mangroves
e. Wetlands
f. Coral Reefs
2. National Parks
- Law protecting our national parks: NIPAS Act - National Integrated
Protected Area System
• enforced through the DENR and the PAMB (Protected Area
Management Board)
COMPONENTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
1. LAND ASSESSMENT AND LAND PLANNING
(Environmental Planning)
• concerned with regional scale land use, environmental impact
predictions
• concerned with systematic evaluation of large areas of land in terms of
land’s suitability or capability for any likely future use
• usually involves a team of specialist; environmental planner / lawyer /
architect/ landscape architect/ urban planner/etc.

➢ theselection of land suitable for urbanization should depend

on an assessment of its fragility and its value for other uses.
COMPONENTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
2. SITE PLANNING
• the creation of environments that satisfy the functional needs of the
project while remaining sensitive to local site conditions.

• concerned with analysis of site

- functional relationship
ex. subdivision plan
- resources
- site structure relationship
- land use relationship
ex. Nature park; Open space
COMPONENTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
3. LANDSCAPE DESIGN
• the site planning and the detailed design for specific projects
• seeks to improve the quality of the landscape, producing tangible forms
with structures and with plants whose growth results in changing
appearances with the seasons and passage of time
• selection of components, materials & plants & their combination as
solutions to limited & well defined problems; paving steps, fountain, etc.
- planting design on broad macro scale – project-based
- indoor / outdoor relationship (circulatory element)
- material designation
 LANDSCAPE DESIGN & SITE PLANNING

Provides design services and prepares detailed

layouts for a wide variety of projects including
but not limited to:
• open space
• housing projects
• residential areas
• school grounds, university & college campuses
• urban parks
• campgrounds as well as facilities within national parks
• downtown shopping malls
•street systems
• industrial parks
•waterfront projects
COMPONENTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

INTERRELATIONSHIP OF THE 3 ASPECTS

1. Criteria for certain large scale land planning decisions

depends on an understanding of the details of design &
technology

2. Practitioners have to understand both scales to do either of

them with responsibility & sensitivity.
 Landscape Architecture:
THE LANDSCAPE PLANNER
1. Program requirement (process of planning)
2. Presentation drawing / concept
3. Specifications & estimates
4. Quality control
DOMAIN OF LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE

•Architectural Communication
•Design
•Ecology and Planning
•Construction and Technology
•Professional Practice/Ethics
Site Elements
 foreground

building area

service area

play area

private area

entourage
1. Foreground 4. Play area
2. Building area 5. Private area
3. Service area 6. Entourage
 foreground

Common Foreground elements:

Factors that control the size of foregrounds:

Function of building
Depth of Lot
Local Ordinances
Driveway Layout
Landscaping
Parking Area and Layout
Type of Street as to volume of Traffic
and intensity of Noise
Area of Rear Lawn or Yard
 building area

Factors controlling the location and position of buildings:

Function of building
Topographic condition
Shape of Lot
Existing features on lot
Location of approach
Orientation as to direction of prevailing wind
Orientation as to direction of sun
Vista
Ordinances as to side and rear setbacks
 service area

Common service area elements:

Factors that control the location of service areas:

Sun exposure
Wind direction
Visual privacy from public areas
Nature of adjoining building
 play area

Common play area elements:

Factors that affect location of play areas:

orientation

effect of noise to adjacent buildings

accessibility
 private area
Common private area elements:

entourage
Common entourage elements:

Factors that control layout of entourage:

Position of walkway, driveway and parking

Size and shape of the softscape / hardscape

Aesthetic and Function